Pakistan shortlist 22 for England series

Pakistan’s selectors on Wednesday short-listed another preliminary squad for their July-September tour of England, resisting calls to bring in opener Ahmed Shehzad who was dropped on disciplinary grounds.

Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq announced that 22 players will attend a skill camp in Lahore from May 30-June 5. The newly appointed head coach Mickey Arthur was also consulted while reducing the squad from 31 that attended the booth camp in Abbottabad.

Opener Mohammad Hafeez and leg-spinner Yasir Shah are in the squad subject to their fitness. Hafeez has not recovered fully from a knee injury (femur bone) while Shah is also nursing a knee damage.

Top first-class performers Asif Zakir (top with 791 runs in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy) and Akbarur Rehman (third with 761 in QT) are among those selected and Inzamam said he will himself look at these two batsmen before taking a final decision.

A final squad of 16 or 17 will be announced next month, after consultation with Arthur who is expected to arrive in Lahore on June 4.

Pakistan will play two warm-up games in the first week of July before the first Test at Lord’s from July 14.